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HUGHES SATELLITE FIRST WITH SES KA-BAND SERVICE (photo)

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, June 11, 1999 -- Hughes Space and Communications Company and Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) of Luxembourg are scheduled to launch Astra 1H on a Proton rocket on the morning of Friday June 18. Astra 1H will inaugurate interactive media services across Europe as the first in the fleet to carry Ka-band.

The 10-minute launch window opens at 7:49:30 a.m. in Baikonur (1:49:30 a.m. GMT, 6:49:30 p.m. PDT, Thursday, June 17). The satellite will be positioned at 19.2 degrees East longitude with seven other Astra satellites. From this single orbital position, the satellites provide analog and digital television and radio services across Europe.

The newest satellite, an HS 601HP for "high power," is the seventh satellite of the HS 601 family to be built by Hughes for SES, making them one of Hughes' largest repeat customers with a relationship spanning nine years.

"Hughes has a longstanding relationship with SES, and we take great pride in knowing that our Astra satellites have collectively provided nearly 20 years of service to SES and their customers," said Tig H. Krekel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes Space and Communications Company. "Their repeat business is acknowledged and appreciated."

Astra 1H also carries a xenon ion propulsion system, "XIPS," a revolutionary propulsion system that allows for the reduction of up to 90 percent of on-board propellant mass. Astra 1H is the seventh Hughes satellite to carry XIPS.

The payload features eight uplink Ka-band channels and two active Ka-band downlink channels, and 30 Ku-band transponders. Astra 1H will use 100-watt traveling wave tube amplifiers and a 28-cell nickel hydrogen battery. Astra 1H has a launch mass of 3690 kg.

Hughes Space and Communications Company is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, and is also a major supplier of spacecraft and equipment to the United States government, and a builder of weather satellites. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.

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Launch status updates are available on the International Launch Services hotline: 800-852-4980. Mission results are available seven hours after lift-off.